Collingwood captain Scott Burns is poised to return for Saturday night's sudden-death AFL semi-final against St Kilda, after hitting the training track on Monday.

Burns missed the Magpies' last home and away game against Fremantle and Saturday's elimination final win over Adelaide with a calf injury.

But Magpies football operations chief Geoff Walsh said everything Burns had done since indicated he would play against the Saints.

"Burnsy did some running straight after the game in Adelaide, he did some stationary bike work yesterday and he ran again today," Walsh said.

"He's going very well, we expect him to do the main session on Wednesday and we're comfortable in saying everything's on track for him to be available on Saturday night."

Burns was one of few senior players to participate in Monday's light training session, with most of those who played against the Crows staying indoors.

The Magpies were also optimistic that Simon Prestigiacomo would be available, despite the big defender struggling with his arm movement after injuring his shoulder early in the Crows' match.

"He was in a hell of a lot better state yesterday than he was on Saturday, he was moving a lot more freely," Walsh said.

The news is less positive for the Saints, who are uncertain whether they will regain courageous midfielder Luke Ball, out for the past five games with a hamstring injury.

Ball will need to prove his fitness at training later this week, as will utility Jason Blake, who dislocated his thumb during Sunday's morale-sapping loss to Geelong and also appeared to have injured his shoulder.

Experienced Sydney forward Michael O'Loughlin will almost certainly miss Friday night's cut-throat MCG clash with the Western Bulldogs.

Swans coach Paul Roos said O'Loughlin, who has not played since round 16 with an ankle injury, was still struggling to twist and was unlikely to play again this year, even if Sydney progressed further.

"At some point your fitness levels drop significantly. He hasn't really been able to do too many fitness sessions," Roos said.

"... It's becoming increasingly unlikely that Mick will play, he'll keep battling away, but at the moment it looks reasonably grim for Mick."

Small forward Craig Bird, a late withdrawal before Saturday night's win over North Melbourne with a groin injury, will be assessed later in the week.

The Bulldogs' only injury doubts were over forward Robert Murphy (corked knee) and defender Lindsay Gilbee (corked thigh), but the club said on Monday both were expected to play against the Swans.

Geelong on Monday confirmed young midfielder Brent Prismall ruptured his ACL on Sunday and will undergo reconstructive surgery later this week.

But half-forward Paul Chapman is likely to be available for the club's preliminary final, despite sitting out the second half of Sunday's game with hamstring soreness, after scans on Monday cleared him of a tear.

The Cats are also confident James Kelly (quad) will be ready to return, although he and Chapman will need to prove their fitness next week.

Running backman David Wojcinski will be available, after recovering from an Achilles injury, which has kept him out of the senior side since round 15.

And Hawthorn are confident key defender Trent Croad will play in their preliminary final, despite being sidelined by a foot injury for the second half of Friday night's win over the Western Bulldogs.

Campbell Brown (thumb), Grant Birchall (hip), Rick Ladson (shoulder) and Cameron Stokes (thigh) are also expected to overcome minor injuries, with the benefit of an extra week's break.

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